Bank robbers sentenced in federal court

By David Hotle | Aug 26, 2010

Two of the three people convicted of robbing the West Chester Savings bank on Oct. 5, 2009, were sentenced in Federal Court after pleading guilty to charges of bank robbery and possession of a firearm in the furtherance of a crime.

According to a press release from United States Attorney Nicholas Klinefeldt’s office, Raylon Deshon Jones, 20, of Washington, was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for the charges. Katelyn Marie Curtis, 19, of Cedar Rapids, was sentenced to six years imprisonment for the crimes. Both defendants were also ordered to serve three-year terms of supervised release following imprisonment, pay assessments of $200 each to the Crime Victims Fund and pay $400 each in restitution related to counseling for affected bank employees. The third robber, Verkisha Latrice Burns, 21, Cedar Rapids, was sentenced on July 2 to 10 years in prison. All three had signed plea agreements, pleading guilty to bank robbery and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. In all cases, a charge of conspiracy to commit bank robbery was dropped.

Law Enforcement Coordinator Mike Bladel said that there is no parole in the federal system and people convicted are required to serve at least 85 percent of their sentence. The maximum sentence for bank robbery is 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The maximum sentence for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence is seven years.

For the full story, see the Aug. 27 edition of The Washington Evening Journal